DEFINE INTUITION

For anyone new here, intuition is kind of my thing. As a bona fide intuition aficionado, I’ve been working on the connection with my own inner compass and aiding others in forging connections with theirs for decades. But for some people, understanding intuition is a relatively new concept. 

So, being the ever-curious cat that I am, I took a little trip down Google Lane to see what questions were burning in the minds of intuition first-timers. Time and again, I stumbled upon the search term “Define Intuition.”

Now, of course, this could be people simply searching for the meaning of the word, but I also imagine there’s something more profound at play. 

In order to unravel the enigma of intuition, we first need to answer the fundamental question: 

What does the word “intuition” really mean? Spoiler alert: it’s way more than just the dictionary definition: the ability to understand something instinctively without the need for conscious reasoning. 

Intuition is actually your brain’s sneaky way of processing oodles of information at lightning speed, subconsciously helping you make snap judgments without deliberate effort.

You might think of your intuition as a guide, helping you to make decisions instinctively based on feeling rather than analysis or cold, hard logic. Naturally, this can lead some people to doubt their intuition, worrying that their feelings-based choices are just whims or baseless hunches. But let me tell you, intuition is a muscle! Flex it, and you’ll unlock its power to make wiser decisions, conquer obstacles, and create a life of purpose and fulfilment.

What are the characteristics of Intuitive Thinking? What separates it from its rational, analytical cousin? To me, intuition represents the connection between mind and body. It’s an inner sense that transcends the five (or even six or seven) senses we typically use. We often joke that our brains know exactly where our organs are, yet they keep that information hidden. 

But there’s truth in this humour – your body perceives and understands vast amounts of information that can go unnoticed because you still need to master the art of listening.

There are several characteristics that distinguish intuitive thinking from rational or analytical thinking. Intuition is typically fast and automatic, occurring without conscious effort. It often manifests as a sudden insight or “aha!” moment, which can be difficult to explain or justify. 

Intuitive thinking is also holistic, meaning it considers the entire context of a situation rather than zeroing in on individual details. Finally, intuition is often influenced by our emotions and personal experiences, which can make it both powerful and subjective.

Both Intuition and Rational Thinking have their perks, but it’s important to recognise their strengths and limitations in order to use them both effectively.

Want to harness your intuition’s power? Practise mindfulness and self-awareness to better understand your gut feelings and emotional responses. By paying attention to your instincts and the context in which they arise, you can learn to confidently trust your intuition. Plus, striking a balance between intuitive and rational thinking will help you pick the perfect approach for any situation.

People often say “follow your gut” to describe instinctive decision-making. While the gut is indeed powerful, I believe another system is at play: your fascia. It may even be your fascia you are feeling responding to an external stimulus. 

Intuition can seem like an ethereal thing – almost unobtainable. Your fascia is almost similar, this silvery sheath of connective tissue that links your entire body together and that is directly affected when stressed and will tighten or relax based on your emotions. I often find myself contemplating the two together, intuition and fascia and wondering if they are perhaps part of the one and the same information centre, gathering information from all around you with your conscious mind being involved and supporting you to KNOW what is your best response. 

If you’d like to learn more about how to release your fascia and its connection to intuition, check out my video series, “Fascia & Feelings”, on Instagram and start experiencing the benefits today!

Finally, by recognising the characteristics of intuitive thinking and learning to balance it with rational thought, we can truly tap into the best of both worlds, allowing for well-rounded decision-making and problem-solving.